South Korea donates K71m to Malawi disaster – Ambassador Ngwenya

Malawi’s top envoy to Japan who also doubles as the country’s envoy to South Korea but resident in Tokyo, Major General Reuben Ngwenya has disclosed that the government of South Korea has donated $ 150,000 (K71 Million) to help Malawi flood victims.

Ngwenya with South Korean medical team

This development comes barely days after the ambassador received different donations from the government of Japan (K74 Million) and other stakeholders—a leading Japanese car exporter, Be Forward—which donated K1.2 million and well wishers—Mayor and Chairperson of Minato City in Japan who donated K3.715 Million.

“I humbly write to inform you Sir that South Korea has kindly responded to our Note Verbale and indicated a donation of $150, 000,” reads in part, the Ambassadors diplomatic memo to Lilongwe adding that “the relief items will be delivered direct to the office of the Commissioner for Disaster Management.”

Ngwenya also disclosed that the Republic of South Korea is also helping Malawi in many projects including Blindness prevention, a programme operated from Daeyang hospital in Lilongwe.

“A lot of people in Malawi now are able to see and restore their sight after the trachoma operation. Please go to Daeyang hospital, it is free through the government of South Korea.

“They have most modern mobile clinic in Mchinji and other districts in the central region and the equipments they use are one of the best medical equipments in the World,” said Ngwenya in praise of what the South Korean government is doing to help his fellow countrymen in Malawi.

On its part, Seoul in its diplomatic memo notifying the Ambassador of the development said that “the government of the Republic of South Korea will provide in-kind assistance comprising of tents, dignity kits, chlorine aqua tablets amongst other things amounting to USD 150,000 to support the government of republic of Malawi’s efforts in alleviating the plight of the twelve districts of the country affected by floods in January of this year”

Seoul further said that “this support comes in light if the 50 year long diplomatic relations between South Korea and Malawi.”

Malawi experienced heavy rains which continued for two weeks in January causing unprecedented devastating floods that engulfed most districts in the southern part of the southern African country.

According to United Nations (UN) Statistics, estimates of the death toll from the torrential rains vary from 79 to more than 200. At least 174,000 people have been displaced and 638,000 affected with livestock and possessions swept away, subsistence crops lost and water sources contaminated.

On behalf of the people of Malawi, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the kind people of South Korea for their aid and for their ongoing support to the people of Malawi. Ironically the Malawi government will not allow South Koreans to come on holiday to Malawi without a very expensive and extremely hard to get VISA. Is it not strange how we treat friends such as this?